The Supreme Court of Virginia has issued a Fourth Order Modifying and Extending the Declaration of Judicial Emergency in Response to COVID-19. The full order can be viewed here.
In all civil cases, any tolling of deadlines and obligations arising out of Part Four of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall terminate as of the effective date of this order (May 18, 2020).
All discovery issued with a deadline to respond during the judicial emergency shall be due within twenty-one (21) days of the effective date of this Order (May18, 2020). Litigants are encouraged to resolve as many pretrial matters as possible with or without the assistance of the courts.
All courts are authorized to accept pleadings, orders and other documents that are electronically signed, including those where the electronic signature is accomplished by scanning.
Continuances and excuses for failure to appear shall be liberally granted for any cause resulting from the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Effective immediately, it is ORDERED that all civil and criminal jury trials are suspended and shall be continued until further notice and no jury trials shall occur in the Commonwealth.